Classical Comedy
August 30-September 22, 2024
The State Theater
2 hours and 10 minutes
PG
Bold, surprising, boisterous, and timely, this P&P for a new era explores the absurdities and thrills of finding your perfect (or imperfect) match in life. Playwright Kate Hamill imbues hilarious new life into this classic love story with a decidedly progressive take on the trials and travails of Elizabeth Bennet, Mr. Darcy, and of course the delightful Bennet clan! Literature’s greatest tale of latent love has never felt so theatrical, or so full of life than it does in this effervescent adaptation.
“Fun and charm to spare; full of high spirits and genuine mirth.” — New York Magazine
IF YOU LIKED:The Women (2018), Enchanted April (2012)
Emily A. Rollie is an Associate Professor of Theatre Studies, Performance, & Education at Central Washington University. Her work spans theatre practice and scholarship, finding ways for each area to fuel the other. Dr. Rollie completed her PhD in Theatre from the University of Missouri and received her Master’s degree in Theatre Production at CWU, where she directed The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, a touring children’s production, for her MA thesis project.
Dr. Rollie’s primary research areas include intimacy choreography and consent-based practices, directing practice and theory, and feminist and queer theatre. Her article on directing feminist solo women performers appeared in the edited volume About Directing (edited by Anna Migliarsi). She is currently working on an edited collection in milestones in staging modern and contemporary genders. She also has several forthcoming articles, including “Relaxed Readiness, Increased Awareness, and Intimacy Protocols: Increasing Actors’ Agency and Authenticity in Stanislavsky’s System” as part of an edited collection on Stanislavksi and Intimacy, and an essay on the intersection between consent-based practices and antiracist theatre practices, co-written with Dr. Natashia Lindsey.
As a director, Dr. Rollie has directed in venues around the country and spent five years as the artistic director of Independent Actors Theatre (IAT), a “purposefully nomadic” theatre company, which became known for its annual short Women’s Play Festival (the plays are short, not the women!). She also was the associate director of the Troubling Violence Performance Project (TVPP), a group dedicated to opening lines of communication about issues of relationship violence through the performance of personal narratives, for four years, and she began a second branch of TVPP in 2014.
Dr. Rollie also works professionally as an intimacy choreographer and is an associate faculty member with Theatrical Intimacy Education (TIE) as well as a founding member of PNW Theatrical Intimacy Collective, a group of intimacy professionals in the region. Emily has choreographed intimacy on productions such as Spring Awakening, Stupid F**king Bird, Nora: A Doll’s House, Fefu and her Friends, and more.
An active member of multiple professional organizations, Dr. Rollie has served as the focus group representative for the Directing Program, part of the Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE), as well as an ATHE Member-at-Large. She also has been a member of the Executive Board of the Canadian Association for Theatre Research (CATR) and currently coordinates the CATR Grants and Scholarships Committee. She regularly attends and has held positions for the Mid-America Theatre Conference. She is also an associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society and serves as an co-editor for the SDC Journal Peer Reviewed Section.
Jeannie Beirne is the Resident Scenic Designer for Harlequin Productions. She has also enjoyed working with The Olympia Family Theatre, Saint Martin’s University, and South Puget Sound Community College. In Missouri, she has designed Urinetown and The Music Man with Missouri Western State University, and The Drowsy Chaperone, She Loves Me, and Damn Yankees for Tent Theater. In Arizona, Jeannie designed Mama and Jack Carew and the world premiere of Suocera by Hal Corley at the Theatre Artists Studio and Big Love with Kim Weild at Arizona State University.
Olivia (Cowlitz Indian Tribe) is the Resident Lighting Designer at Harlequin. Olivia graduated from Central Washington University with a BFA in Theater Design and Technology. She has also worked with Tacoma Opera, Theater Artists Olympia, Olympia Family Theater, Tacoma Arts Live, SMU, SPSCC, and Seattle Children’s Theater.
While Bridget and her family may be new to the Olympia area, she is not new to a love of theater. Having been the Hair and Makeup Director for The Liberty Theater in Dayton, WA for 7 years, she has worked on productions such as Oliver, Beauty and the Beast, Fiddler on the Roof, Once Upon a Mattress, Music Man, Christmas Carol, and Annie. She’s excited to jump into theater again in her new community and has truly enjoyed her experiences with the Harlequin Theater and the players she has met. Bridget is a salon owner in Tumwater, calling The Craft salon her home.
Marianna performs around Seattle, and has performed in several Harlequin shows, including as Eve in The Art of Racing in the Rain, Daphne in Present Laughter and Mrs. Linde in A Doll’s House. Before the shutdown, she was playing Julia in an adaptation of 1984 with Radial Theatre Project. She has cut her teeth voice acting with Sandbox Radio Live, Imagination Theater and on various video games. Since receiving her MFA at the University of Washington, Marianna has been coaching individuals in accent modification, public speaking and voice and speech: www.mariannadefazio.com
Additioanl area credits include The Mystery Plays and The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong with Theater Artists Olympia, and Hotel Olympian Gala Extravaganza with Open Road Productions. Some favorite productions include Cinder Edna at Olympia Family Theater, St. Martin’s production of Equivocation, Hamlet with South Puget Sound Community College, Night Must Fall at Olympia Family Theater, The Head That Wouldn’t Die! at Theater Artists Olympia, The Rocky Horror Show at Lakewood Playhouse, and Cabaret with Standing Room Only.
Ariel Rose is ever so joyous to be making her Harlequin debut. Jane will be the fourth Bennet sister under Ariel’s belt, having recently understudied Kitty, Lizzy, and Mary in Taproot Theatre Company’s production of Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley. Other Seattle credits include Sherlock Holmes & The Precarious Position (Taproot), Henry VI Part 1 (Greenstage), An Incomplete List (Dacha), and several touring educational productions with Taproot’s Road Company. Love to Mom, Sal & friends.
Rebecca Gelzer (she/her) is delighted to be making her Harlequin Productions debut! PNW credits include Taproot Theatre Company’s Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley andWoodinville Repertory’s These Shining Lives. Favorites at Belhaven University: Henrietta in Silent Sky, Steel Magnolias, Burial at Thebes, Suite Surrender, and Juliet in bY aNy oTheR nAMe. When not romping around the stage, Rebecca teaches music, hunts down local cups of coffee, and stops to smell the roses, quite literally. Thank YOU for supporting live theatre!!
David is a graduate of Cornish College of the Arts, and has since been seen onstage at Taproot Theatre Company, Tacoma Arts Live, Centerstage Theatre, Reboot Theatre Company, and many others. Past credits include Jesus Christ Superstar (Caiaphas), The Wizard of Oz (Scarecrow), Romeo & Juliet (Benvolio), and Tartuffe (Valere). Huge thanks to his wonderful partner, friends, and family for their unrelenting support. Cheers!
Harlequin debut! Riel is thrilled to join this exciting cast. As a theatre artist, Riel has worked with Seattle Opera, Village Theatre, Taproot Theatre, ArtsWest, The Feast, ReAct Theatre, Latitude Theatre and many more. All love and thanks to his community of family and friends that have and continue to support him through the slogs and joys of life in the arts. MFA; University of Washington School of Drama. Proverbs 16:9.
Marianna performs around Seattle, and has performed in several Harlequin shows, including as Eve in The Art of Racing in the Rain, Daphne in Present Laughter and Mrs. Linde in A Doll’s House. Before the shutdown, she was playing Julia in an adaptation of 1984 with Radial Theatre Project. She has cut her teeth voice acting with Sandbox Radio Live, Imagination Theater and on various video games. Since receiving her MFA at the University of Washington, Marianna has been coaching individuals in accent modification, public speaking and voice and speech: www.mariannadefazio.com
Take a peek behind the scenes during Act 1 in a backstage timelapse! Then hear from actors Marianna de Fazio, Xander Layden, and newcomer Brandon Riel about why they think Jane Austen's novels have stood the test of time, what makes Kate Hamill's adaptation so unique, and what they're most looking forward to.
Meet Karen LaGrave Small, Featured Artist for Pride and Prejudice
An Artist Reception to welcome Artist Karen Small to Harlequin will take place on Friday, September 6, 2024 from 5:30 – 6:30 pm in the State Theater Lobby. All are welcome! Light refreshments will be served.